South Waterfront News

[RED_PDXer]

Originally Posted by cronked

I sent in a request that they put in more commercial (retail) space. These plans only have 1,680 square feet for a building over 177,000 square feet! Not even 1%.

Meh.. I'm not so sure. The district is fairly small and it's easy to walk a block over and find retail. Several of the earlier buildings in the pearl lack retail and it doesn't feel like a huge vacuum there. Developers will put it in if it makes sense.

[pdxstreetcar]

Originally Posted by RED_PDXer

Meh.. I'm not so sure. The district is fairly small and it's easy to walk a block over and find retail. Several of the earlier buildings in the pearl lack retail and it doesn't feel like a huge vacuum there. Developers will put it in if it makes sense.

Thats the problem with retail in the South Waterfront, its all scattered throughout... a little space here on this building and a little space there on that building. Why they didnt pick a single street in South Waterfront to line on both sides with retail (the key to all successful urban retail streets) is beyond me.

[Mr. Walch]

I agree. They should have attempted to focus retail in one of two areas so they would succeed. Much of the Pearl has no retail and it totally pleasant. You also see this in every big city. In the SoWa maybe retail is focusing via market forces with these new southern projects not including retail (isn't the matisse converting much of their retail into more apartments) and the heart of the district evolving to the north near OHSU|Zidell|Lightrail where there is a high density of both daytime and nighttime occupants that is set to continue growing. That being said, a few scattered spots can still be nice for the corner store or the Laundromat (or Doggy daycare more likely as this is Portland). The other issue is that the last few projects have been 6 stories not 20 - it take a lot of residents to support a lot or retail and SoWa is not yet a shopping/dinning destination drawing shoppers from the whole city.

As an aside, I just got to tour the Collaborative Life Sciences Building and it is looking pretty great. I will be good when there is several thousand more people working and studying down there and a new rail line running through it.

[cronked]

Little Big Burger in the South Waterfront will have its grand opening this Friday with free burgers from 4-8!

NOTE: I edited the times of the free burgers. The time of 4-8 pm is the correct time.

[Derek]

Free burgers? I'm there.

[MarkDaMan]

Portland's South Waterfront shows signs of evolving into a neighborhood
By Rebecca Koffman, Special to The Oregonian
on March 07, 2013 at 9:00 AM, updated March 07, 2013 at 9:04 AM

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index...waterfront_sho.html#incart_river_default

On a recent sunny day at the beautifully landscaped Elizabeth Caruthers Park in South Waterfront, a rich and lively scene unfolds. Children play while their parents chat. Seniors from the nearby retirement complex, the Mirabella, sun themselves on benches and watch the walkers, joggers, cyclists and streetcars go by.

A few blocks away, however, the bustle fades. The sidewalks are deserted, the storefronts an expanse of blank glass with For Lease signs in the window. The place still feels raw, unfinished. This is not the thriving retail landscape and streetlife that developers promised.

What makes a great neighborhood? Attractive public spaces where people can gather? High density mixed-use construction? Public transit? South Waterfront was built with many of these ingredients in mind.

But does it feel like a neighborhood yet? Is there a there there?

...

...Things are looking up on the retail front also: the much anticipated and long-awaited opening of the South Waterfront branch of Little Big Burger is set for this Friday.

"There'll be free burgers between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.," says manager David Miller...

???

[pdxtraveler]

Originally Posted by MarkDaMan

Portland's South Waterfront shows signs of evolving into a neighborhood
By Rebecca Koffman, Special to The Oregonian
on March 07, 2013 at 9:00 AM, updated March 07, 2013 at 9:04 AM

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index...waterfront_sho.html#incart_river_default



???

Seriously?

"A few blocks away, however, the bustle fades. The sidewalks are deserted, the storefronts an expanse of blank glass with For Lease signs in the window. The place still feels raw, unfinished. This is not the thriving retail landscape and streetlife that developers promised."

Seriously?!

This was always a 20-30 year project, it has been less than 10. Give it a chance!

[flux73]

Haven't stayed on top of the developments in the South Waterfront in awhile so this Nike rumor is news to me! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Nike pulls the trigger on the South Waterfront. I wish they had a "suggestion box" of some kind to get public opinions. Here's mine...

Just dreaming here, but what I think (wish) they should do if they do get a sizable chunk of the waterfront property, besides building corporate office space, is build a NikeWorld, where they have lots of basketball courts, running track, small fields for soccer, maybe even a netted driving range (like Chelsea Piers in NYC). These would all be relatively low maintenance except may the driving range, and if they charged a fee of say $100 a month or one-time $15 usage fee, I'd bet it'd be super popular. 1) It wouldn't compete with OHSU's Wellness Center since they eliminated their basketball courts. 2) They could put a big store right next to the facilities and the sales would be driven up by all the people who suddenly want a new pair of shoes, new shirts/shorts, equipment, etc, etc. 3) They'd be in full view of the streetcar and all the walking/biking commuters.

[cronked]

Originally Posted by pdxtraveler

Seriously?

"A few blocks away, however, the bustle fades. The sidewalks are deserted, the storefronts an expanse of blank glass with For Lease signs in the window. The place still feels raw, unfinished. This is not the thriving retail landscape and streetlife that developers promised."

Seriously?!

This was always a 20-30 year project, it has been less than 10. Give it a chance!

I was out and about on Saturday and noticed the increase in traffic in the area. Both pedestrians and cars. The neighborhood is bustling and has taken on a life of its own. I don't care what Oregon Live says!

On a sad note, they have started to convert the retail space in the Matisse into apartment units today. The retail just isn't filling up down there.

The Oregon Live article posted the wrong time for the free burgers. I confirmed directly with Little Big Burger about this. It doesn't matter much anyhow as the free burgers were cancelled due to a mechanical problem. The earliest possible opening is today according to their Facebook page. Although they have not confirmed an opening date yet.

[Illithid Dude]

I'm sorry if the answer to my question is right in front of me, but what is the name of this project?



I'm really loving the architecture. Thanks!

[PacificNW]

It is the OHSU/OUS COLLABORATIVE LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING

[pdxstreetcar]

I know this building isnt finished but its certainly looking like the main floor will be about 10' above Moody Avenue (streetcar street) and at best will be a landscaped berm. This made it through design review, neighborhood plan review, and city codes, how? I thought the South Waterfront was supposed to be oriented around the pedestrian and transit and was all about active ground floors?

[NJD]

image ohsu

^I know it's hard to see, but the Moody side is the only side that doesn't have direct ground floor windows/ entrances, it looks to have an elevated pedestrian space. This grade difference seams to be caused by a design issue with the underground parking levels, and OHSU wanted to focus activity on the proposed future plaza area on the East side of the building. There is also a dead zone for potential mid-block retail created by Trimet's limitations/ design for crosswalks on both Moody and the station area on Porter so the building has classroom space and entrances lining those streets. The buildings' bicycle parking garage and showers are located below the Moody corner as well, which will add a bit of coming and going activity.

I think the stairs/ landscaping might be a really nice feature along Moody, and stairs anywhere near a school attract students to gather.

[MarkDaMan]

Crossing my fingers on this one.

Nike expansion: Company executives meet with Portland city commissioners; non-disclosure agreements involved
By Brad Schmidt, The Oregonian
on April 04, 2013 at 12:55 PM, updated April 04, 2013 at 3:20 PM

(the entire story, free)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index...sion_company_executi.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Nike is still considering a potential location in Portland, if activity at City Hall this week is any indicator.

Nike executives met with city commissioners Dan Saltzman, Amanda Fritz and Steve Novick on Monday in back-to-back meetings, although no one is saying what was discussed.

Commissioner Nick Fish didn't meet with Nike officials, however, over initial concerns tied to a non-disclosure agreement that city leaders have been asked to sign.

...

Nike is considering expansion options, looking near its existing headquarters in Washington County but also in Portland. Mayor Charlie Hales' office, in conjunction with the Portland Development Commission, is leading Portland's talks.

There's speculation that Nike may be interested in expanding to the South Waterfront, although the Conway site in Northwest Portland has also been mentioned.

...

[cab]

Amanda Fritz will screw it up. Watch. I'd feel much better if Nike and Hales were the ones talking.

[65MAX]

I'm pretty sure Fritz will have zero effect one way or another. Didn't you read this in the post before yours?

"Nike is considering expansion options, looking near its existing headquarters in Washington County but also in Portland. Mayor Charlie Hales' office, in conjunction with the Portland Development Commission, is leading Portland's talks."

[cab]

Thanks 65Max. Hales should give up his first born for this one.

[MarkDaMan]

Nike expansion: Portland considers $80 million package to recruit company to South Waterfront
By Brad Schmidt, The Oregonian
April 11, 2013 at 4:21 PM, updated April 11, 2013 at 4:22 PM

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index...sion_portland_consid.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Attempting to lure Nike to Portland's South Waterfront District, city officials have considered offering unprecedented financial incentives of about $80 million for parking garages, parks and new streets tied to a massive company expansion, The Oregonian has learned.

Taxpayer-backed investments could balloon to nearly $140 million if Multnomah County authorizes a major tax-abatement program for Nike, under one scenario. But at this point, it's not clear if any specific financial package has been offered to Nike officials, who also are weighing options in Washington County.

Speculation about Nike's plans has grown after company executives met last week with Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and individual city commissioners. While Nike is eying about 29 acres south of downtown Portland, the Fortune 500 company also is studying 28 acres it owns next to its World Headquarters.

...

But company officials and city leaders are instead discussing a far more robust expansion, The Oregonian has learned, including as many as 6,000 jobs and $700 million in total investments over three decades.

...

Funding from Portland would come from the North Macadam urban renewal district, under scenarios being considered. Shawn Uhlman, a spokesman for Portland's urban renewal agency, the Portland Development Commission, declined to say if any formal or informal offer has been extended to Nike.

...

[Nunya]

That would be amazing for Sowa and if it happens, hopefully it spurs other projects.

However, Beaverton continues to amaze me with their ineptitude/lack of foresight. Further West Hillsboro continues to attract interesting and large new projects and Beaverton continues to stagnate in comparison. Nike putting a toehold into Sowa would be just another condemnation of how poorly Beaverton has managed things. Why would Nike want to grow in Beaverton when they build 🞵🞵🞵🞵 like they do across the street from them (i.e. that horrid development NE of Murray & Jenkins) that was a large parcel that could have actually been a much more urban development. Here's a great idea, let's sourround our only F500 company headquarters in town with blah.

[PDX City-State]

If this happens, it's going to be a catalyst and a game-changer. Nike is one of the most influential brands in the world. And even though we all know folks who work for then, their influence on city life within the city of Portland has been minimal due to the Beaver-tron HQ. Imagine what having 6,000 creative types in SOWA would do for housing, business, and culture in South Waterfront and the Central City. OHSU is already the city's largest employer, and having them next door to the state's most valuable company would be incredible. Plus, imagine the brain trust--the best minds in athletics adjacent to the best minds in medicine.